If you or any of your loved ones have melasma, probably there would have been many questions coming to mind regarding melasma and its treatment. In case you have no idea about what melasma is, don’t feel embarrassed! Read on to this post by a top-notch skin doctor at Soul Derma, who provides the best and expert Melasma Treatment in South Delhi.
Continue reading to learn more about melasma.
What is Melasma?
Melasma is a skin pigmentation irregularity, a common hyperpigmentation disorder. It is clinically presented as brown or blue/gray patches on the skin usually in areas exposed to the sun. Mostly affected areas include the face (such as the cheeks, chin, forehead, and upper lip), back, chest, and arms. Some people confuse these dark patches with freckles or blotchy skin with irregular borders.
Melasma is an acquired skin condition. Some people deal with melasma for years or even throughout their lives while others (like pregnant women) have them in transient.
What causes melasma?
Melasma occurs when the melanocytes in certain areas of the skin become hyperactive or overproduce melanin, thereby making skin darker than usual. Melanin is a pigment that gives the skin its natural colour and tone. Although there is no exact cause of excess melanin deposition in particular sites of the body, certain triggers can set it off.
Melasma more likely affects females who are in their 30s or 40s, patients with darker skin types, and those who overexpose their skin to the sun.
What are the factors that pose an increased risk of acquiring melasma?
Some of the melasma triggers/risk factors are:
- Prolonged or Overexposure to sun’s UV radiation: When UV radiation from the sun falls onto the skin, it induces increased melanin production that gives the skin a darker appearance. This effect can cause melasma. In some cases of melasma, the dark skin patches become more prominent in the summer and get lighter in winter.
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy: Melasma is often associated with female sex hormones: oestrogen and progesterone. When these hormones are at peak, as in pregnancy, extra melanin production occurs resulting in darker skin in patches. Chloasma is the name given to the transient melasma affecting primarily the face and other sun-exposed areas of the skin of pregnant women.
- Endocrinologic abnormalities: PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease) and thyroid dysfunction are endocrinologic abnormalities that often show a connection to melasma. In these endocrinologic conditions, there is a hormonal fluctuation that stimulates melanin overproduction, triggering melasma.
- Pollution: People who reside in polluted geographical locations are more likely to have melasma. That’s because the particulate matter suspended in the air increases the amount of reactive oxygen species which further triggers an increase in metalloproteinases resulting in extrinsic ageing, which includes hyperpigmentation.
- Certain drugs: Side effects of certain medications like oral contraceptives, phenytoin, and certain antidepressants/antipsychotics are exacerbation of facial hyperpigmentation.
How do skin doctors help treat melasma?
There is no one perfect treatment option to address melasma. All of the melasma treatments suggested by Best Skin Doctor in Greater Kailash at Soul Derma need strict sun protection. It is imperative to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 above on the sun-exposed areas of the body regardless of outside weather whenever stepping outside in the daytime. Moreover, sun-protective clothing is a must.
The main aim of any melasma treatment is to lighten the dark skin patches and restore the natural skin tone. Sometimes, a combination of treatments is needed for effective fading out of dark skin. The key is patience since melasma treatment may take time to show desired results.
The different treatment options recommended by skin doctors for melasma include:
- Topical skin products: Hydroquinone, retinoid (tretinoin), and corticosteroids are mostly prescribed for application on the melasma-affected skin. Rest, the patient can also use skin-lightening products containing azelaic acid, kojic acid, and/or Vitamin C.
- Oral medications: Some oral medications like isotretinoin, melatonin, tranexamic acid, and glutathione have been suggested as potential drugs for melasma treatment. They can help downregulate melanogenesis and manage melasma. Â
- Anti-melasma peel: In this treatment, the skin doctor first assesses the extent of pigmentation and then applies 4 to 5 different acids on the affected skin one by one. The chemical solutions are applied with a clean brush and then the skin is left undisturbed for some time. After a few minutes, a neutralizer is applied over it. The peel helps chemically exfoliate the skin and reveals the new, normal-pigmented skin from underneath. Multiple treatment sessions are required to achieve the desired results.
- Laser toning: This treatment involves the use of a Q-switched ND: YAG laser at an appropriate setting. When the light from this laser is focused onto the affected skin, the extra melanin gets heat destroyed and comes to the surface. The fragmented pigments are later naturally eliminated from the body. Multiple laser treatment sittings in a gap of a few weeks are required to treat melasma.
- Microneedling: This treatment addressed melasma by creating micro-wounds in the affected skin at a uniform depth. The micro-holes in the skin allow better absorption of the skin, lightening topical products and boosting collagen production, thereby fading the dark patches.
- Microdermabrasion: In this treatment, a derma roller or a tool with an abrasive end is used to mechanically exfoliate the outer layers of the pigmented skin. This triggers the formation of new epidermal cells which leaves the skin less dark or hyperpigmented.
Best Skin Doctor in Greater Kailash at Soul Derma selects the treatment option for melasma based on the patient’s skin type, the depth of the patches, and the location of the affected skin. Melasma can only be managed but not cured. For chloasma, there is no treatment. After pregnancy is over, the skin colour gets back to normal.
How can I tackle melasma?
You should consult a dermatologist at Soul Derma to get yourself properly evaluated and receive the best-suited Melasma Treatment in South Delhi. At your level, you need to strictly follow sun protection. You must avoid staying under the sun for long hours. If outdoors, you must wear sunglasses, broad-brimmed hats, and clothing that fully covers your body. Furthermore, you must wear broad-spectrum sunscreen twice or thrice daily. Lastly, you must not fail to maintain a good skincare regime.
